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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 15th, 2024–Dec 16th, 2024

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

North Columbia, South Columbia, Glacier, Esplanade, Jordan, North Monashee, North Selkirk, Dogtooth, West Purcell, Badshot-Battle, Central Selkirk, Goat, Gold, Retallack, Whatshan.

Watch for deeper and more reactive deposits around ridges and lee features, especially as you enter open or alpine terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Saturday, explosives control work and skier traffic triggered storm slab avalanches to size 1.5, averaging 20 to 30 cm deep. A handful of natural storm slab avalanches to size 2 were observed failing in steep terrain.

Snowpack Summary

10 to 30 cm fresh snow accumulated over the weekend and was redistributed by southerly winds in the alpine and open treeline, wind formed slabs in lee features. This snow covers older snow in most terrain and surface hoar in sheltered locations.

A surface hoar layer is now buried 30 to 70 cm and is most prevalent from 1700 to 2200 m (see this MIN). We're tracking this layer as the load (and resulting slab) builds above it. We may see reactivity increase when the load above reaches a critical threshold. Below 1600 m and on solar slopes a crust is at this interface.

There are no deeper layers of concern.

Weather Summary

Sunday night

Partly cloudy with starry breaks. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

Monday

Partly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

Wednesday

Snow, 15-30 cm. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect, and exposure to wind.
  • Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • Investigate the bond of the recent snow before committing to your line.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.